Lubricating installation



J. BIJUR LUBRICATING INSTALLATION Original Filed Jan. 18, 1923 V 1/ I I March 5, 1940. I

a w WM? a VH J w whm ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES Joseph Bijur, deceased, late of New York, N. Y., by George Bi'jur, executor, New York, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Auto Research Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Original application January 18, 1923, Serial No.

613,476, new Patent No. 2,009,428, dated July 30, 1935. Divided and this application June" 2-9, 1935, Serial No. 29,023

installation of the above type of simple andinexpensive construction, functioning reliably to 1a prevent undesired drainage or loss from the.

piping through any one or more of the multi-.

plicity of bearings supplied. 0

Among other objects of the invention are to provide acsystem of the type mentioned, the assembly or install'ation of which shall be particular-1y expeditious andinexpensive, and which,

in operation, shall eifect distribution of lubricantto the bearings reliably in accordance with requirements, ;and without deficiency or excessive overflow at any bearing.

.Another object is to provide a lubricating installation, the use of which shall not require the exercise of any selective discretion, but in which, as the result of a simple manipulation, correct and sufficient lubrication is effected at each of the bearings, whether tight or loose and without excessive overflow.

Another object is to provide an installation of the above type which will not, be deranged by a the entry of dust or dirt and the operation of which will not require much effort.

Another object is to provide an installation which if injured will not be disabled beyond. the vicinity of the damage, and in which repair or replacement may be effected without either draining or shutting off the line.-

Clogging ofany of the restricted ducts or outlets with solid particles that may be carried with the oil is prevented preferably by providing.

55 striction, but a high resistance to the flow of lubricant, that is, a resistance of such order as ,to substantially prevent gravity flow, but to permit only slow, preferably, drop by drop, seepage of the oil under a sustained working or operating pressure The resistance of the outlets is so high com' pared to that encountered in the line, that differences in length of line to the various bearings,

PATENT OFFICE],

or in tightness or looseness of the bearings, do

not seriously impair the accuracy of distribution. In view of the consequent relatively slow rate of flow in the line during discharge, it is feasible, and preferable to use piping of extraordinarily small diameter, preferably of seamless metal tubing, to resist the comparatively high pressures incurred.

The extremely slow rate of oil flow in operation, which is a concomitant of the high resistance outlets, renders inconvenientthe use of direct discharged large volume pumps as the propelling means because of the length of time for which the power source and manual effort has to be sustained.

According to this invention, a pump structure is charged against the resistance of a spring, .thus, operating as a pressure generator, the spring exerting automatically a discharging pressure, sustained until the discharge is completed.

Y The above and other features of. the invention Fig. 4 is an end view of said restriction outlet fitting,

Fig. 5 is a view in longitudinal cross-section of a check valve fitting,

.Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the lubrication of a king pin and related bearings,

Fig. 7 is a detail view in longitudinal section through the multiple restriction duct fitting shown in Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 is a view in longitudinal cross-section on the line 88 of Fig. 9 through the multipl outlet fitting shown in Fig. 6,

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9- of Fig. '8, and e Fig. 10 is a piping diagram of a modification. In Fig. 1 there is shown a system particularly adapted for lubricating an automobile chassis having three lines, a chassis frame line, a front axle lineand a rear axle line, which are shut off by valves from communication with each other, except when pressure is applied at the source.

Each line is open from end to end and has ducts therein restricted to offer a resistance to flow, which is high relative to that in the length of the line, thereby effecting reliable distribution. The restriction ducts on each line are at a common level to prevent drainage or syphoning of oil.

Some of the restriction ducts are disposed as terminal or outlet fittings on the bearings at highest level on any line, and the remaining restriction ducts on the line are connected by corresponding conduits open for gravity feed to the lower bear- 1 ings. The specific installation of Fig. 1 comprises a pressure generator H0, shown in detail in Fig. 2, connected to mains HI and H2 extending lengthwise of the vehicle frame.

The chassis frame is illustratively shown curved downward at the front and rear, so that the front bolts i [3 for the front springs and the rear'shackles M4 for the rear springs are at a level lower than that of the main.

Each of the spring bolts and shackles may be supplied through a restricted duct element 0 as shown in Fig. 3, said duct elements desirably being all at substantially a common level, which in the preferred form is the level of the mains.

HI and H2.

Short taps t to the various bearings, serve as gravity flow leads for the lubricant forced past the restriction ducts, the drooping ends 15' of the mains, conveying lubricant by gravity flow to the bearings at their ends, after it has been forced through the corresponding restriction ducts O at the uniform level of the main.

The spring shackles are preferably provided with appropriate conduits H5 through which lubricant passes by gravity from the upper to the lower bearing thereof, both bearings of each shackle being supplied from a single corresponding restriction fitting. The detailed mechanical construction and connection of the shackle, need not here bedescribed, as it is no part of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, also a flexible conduit H6 is tapped from the main to supply thev rear bearing on the drag link of the steering gear, a restriction fitting 0 being also provided near the head of said conduit and at substantially the same level as the other ducts O on the main to control the flow through conduit HE.

A valve V normally closes the head of the line from the pressure generator and from atmosphere, so that the line will remain filled up to all of the equi-level chassis frame restriction ducts. The various branches or taps t, t' beyond the restriction ducts which serve to connect the latter with the bearings, are normally empty or drained.

In the present embodiment, a flexible conduit H! is provided, tapping the main H2 and leading to the front axle. This line is preferably of solid metalseamless air-tight or fluid-tight piping provided with one or more appropriate helical conformations H to permit of the relative movement of axle and frame.

The branch ll'i'includes a transverse element. H8, also of solid pipe upon the front axle, from which the various bearings. at opposite ends of the axle are supplied. A valve V of the type shown in Fig. 5 is provided at the head of branch" Ii! to interrupt the otherwise open or vented of the front axle, is shown only diagrammatically in Fig. l, the structure being illustrated in detail in Figs. 6 to 9 to be subsequently described.

The outlet fittings are indicated at O by symbol C] at each of the bearings to be lubricated and are best shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The outlet fittings 0 may be of identical con struction.

In the preferred embodiment,the unitcomprises a pipe fitting element 31 threaded at one end 38 I for connection to the conduit and at the other end 39 for attachment either to the bearing, in

20 the manner of an oil cup or in the run of the lines Within the bore 40 of the fitting is a rod or'pin M which is of substantially the same cross-sectional area as said bore to substantially fill the.

same, the difference in diameterzbeing in the order of .001 of one inch.

A spring washer 42' is'snapped into an approin the fitting and affords but minute outlets at its scalloped periphery for a purpose appearing below.

A plug 43 of material, such as felt, is snugly fitted into a corresponding socket 44- atthe inlet end of the fitting, exposing to the flow of oil from the line, both its end and a portion of its lateral surface, for the purpose of intercepting f any minute particles or chips taken up in the line, thereby preventing eventual clogging of the minute crevice between the bore of the fitting and the pin therein.

Preferably a backing 43' of metal gauze is'disposed at the inner end of the felt plug to prevent movement toward the restriction pin 4|, of -any hair that may separate from the felt. The minute cross-section of the restriction being thd difference between that of the bore and that of the pin, it can be easily made within close limits of accuracy, to' assure reliable functioning, and by reason of the substantial length of said crevice, transversely of the pipe bore, it is unlikely to become clogged- If desired, a disk of felt 42 may be provided at the outlets of fittings 0 preferably interposed between washers 42 and 42' to prevent the entry of dirt thereto from the bearings.

The outlet fittings have resistance of such order that when a pressure as high as fifty pounds per square inch is applied at the pressure source I It, the lubricant will escape through the outlets by seepage and not by flow, that is, at a rate in the order of only from about one to thirty drops a minute, depending on viscosity.

, With such arrangement, the operation is too slowfor convenient discharge by direct power of a spring 50' and consequently discharged by the i slow return of the deformed spring whichwill,

therefore, exert a substantial and sustained pres- 7-5 sure,which will endure until a volume of lubricant equal to that in the cylinder, will have passed beyond the restriction outlets O to the various bearings. Check valve I' prevents discharge of the generator into the reservoir and check valve 5| at the bottom'of the cylinder maintains the of filter material, such as felt, to intercept solid particles in the oil, so that the advance strainers 43 at the outlet fittings will not be prematurely clogged, said strainers intercepting merely such particles or chips as are picked up in the line.

The preferred embodiment of the valves V V andV- is shown in Fig. 5.

' The Valve here shown comprises a pipe fitting 58" having threaded ends 59 and 69, which may be secured between sections of the pipe line in any appropriate manner.

The fitting is provided with an integral annular valve seat 6|, preferably highly burnished, and a disk valve 62 is urged to closing position against said seat by a coil spring 63, within the bore '64 of the fitting, said coil spring being maintained in place by a washer 66 in turn held by a split ring 61.

The valve is preferably formed of metal and has'a seating portion 88 which may be of soft leather faced with oil paper or silk $9 or the like.

The valve fitting is also provided with a felt strainer 43 similar to that shown in the fitting of Figs. 3 and 4 .to prevent the passage of chips from the line to the valve seat which might in 'teriere with seating.

Referring to Fig. 6, thebranch line H8 is connected through a fitting us to be described below, in the upper clevis arm H ll of the front axle.

' The wheel control apparatus is shown of conventional construction, including a steering knuckle IZI fitting between arms IZ-il'and M2 of the axle 'clevis and connected thereto by king pin I23 which in the present embodiment is shown of the rotatable typeto move as a unit with the steering knuckle.

Rigid with the steering knuckle I2I is .shown the curved steering arm I2 5 provided with the ball studIEB, coacting with the usual socket in the drag link 526. As an integral branch of the steering arm, there is a further arm I27 having its end connected to the clevis 523 of the tie rod I29 by'means of a bolt I33.

The fitting I I9 shown in section in Fig. 7 is of a type generally similar to that shown in Fig. 3 except that it is provided with two restriction pin ducts I3I and 532, through the former of which the bearings of the associated king pin are supplied,,th'e other supplying the drag link and tie rod bearings.

Restriction duct Il-EI communicates directly with the. upper bearing I33 of the king pin, overflowing through a vertical passage I34, at the side of the king pin, to supply the lower bearing l22 thereof.

The second restriction duct E32 communicates with a vertical passage ltd through the upper into the steering knuckle and provided with an integral axial stud III about which is telescoped collar I12, held firmly in position thereon by nut I13. The stud has an outer peripheral groove I74 communicating with the bore T5 of the outlet plug, said peripheral groove communicating with lateral outlets or branches Hit and Ill in an integral lug I18 on collar l'EZ. I

A conduit I31 is connected as by soldering to the outlet ofbranch ITI of the double outlet fitting and extends down to the steering arm 5M and along said arm and is connected by an appropriate unrestricted outlet fitting 38 to the ball bearing element I25. 1 To the second branch llfi of the double outlet fitting is similarly connected a conduit I II similar to that described,

' which extends parallel thereto, along the arm lit,

and bridges over as shown at I42 to supply the tie rod clevis pin Iiili through an unrestricted outlet fitting'Mt at the end thereof.

In the present embodiment it will be seen, that fittings I36, I 39 and I43 move as a rigid unit with the steering knuckle, so that the connect- 7 the lubricant in desired proportions to conduits I31 and MI, the branch or double outlet fitting I36 may be provided with wicks I45 and M6 in the branches thereof and resting upon the upper ends of the conduits.

In operation, lubricant forced by pressure past the second restriction duct I32 in fitting H9; drops by gravity through passage I35 and is divided at the wicks I45 and I 46 in the double outlet fitting, part dripping into conduit NH and draining. to bearing I30, the rest dripping into conduit I31 which delivers through fitting I39 to and through ball I25, the latter being at a' I level several inches lower than the wick;

It is understood that the length of the conduit I31 will normally be filled with lubricant up to substantially the level of the ball duct I25, so that upon entry of lubricant through wick M5, the level at the opposite end of the line will rise to admit a corresponding quantity of oil to the bearing. The oil normally remaining in conduit I3! will not leak therefrom, since said conduit, as previously noted, is of rigid pipe.

As the pressure from the source is substan" tially absorbed in the restriction fitting I IQ, oil passes by gravity flow through passages I34 and I35, from the bearing IZI], to the relatively movable steering knuckle. The thrust bearing M8 between axle and steering knuckle being maintainedrelatively tight by the weight of the vehicle body supported thereon and the oil which passes thereacross to the bearings not being under pressure, leakage is. substantially precluded.

As shown, passage I35 is preferably spaced from the king pin, the communicating aperturel w in the thrust washer being of sufiicient width to maintain continuity of said passage in all posi ti'ons of the steering knuckle. Only a small film of the oil can escape laterally at the thrust washer and serves to lubricate the thrust bearing. Thus, the oil is delivered from the axle to the relatively movable bearings on the steering knuckle, by passing across the particularly rugged thrust bearings of the vehicle, thereby eliminating the need for projecting oil swivels or extra length of flexible conduits, which unless, adequately protected, are subject to injury from the impact which the front of the vehicle frequently encounters.

Of course, it will be understood that for lubrieating the bearings at the right side of the front axle, the construction described. would be used,

simplified by the omission of conduit 37, the restriction duct 32 supplying only the tie rod clevis pin bearing.

Instead of the single multiple fitting H9 with two restriction ducts, it is of course, understood that separate and distinct fittings may be used,

, and it is, moreover, apparent that, if desired, the

drag link and the tie rod bearings may each be supplied through a separate and distinct restriction duct, as may the upper and the lower king pin bearings.

It is manifest that the invention illustrated in Fig. 6 is applicable to a stationary instead of the rotary king pin construction shown, and also to a construction of tie rod pin rigid with the steering knuckle instead of with the tie rod or to other types of bearings on other types of mechanisms than chassis.

If desired, a valve of the type shown in Fig. 5 may be provided at the multiple restriction fitting H9, and may be embodied in a unitary construction therewith.

As best indicated in the drawing in Fig. 1, the outlet ends of the restriction pin ducts l3! and I32 at the front axle, which are disposed two at each king pin, are all at a common level. The valve V preventing the entry of air to the pipe line Hi from above said ducts, and said branch pipe being air-tight, from said valve to the ducts, it-follows that said branches will normally be maintained filled with lubricant without likelihood of any leak, drainage or syphoning therefrom, even though no valves are provided at or below the restriction ducts.

A single pipe line I50 generally similar to that at the front axle, provided with similar helical conformations H and normally closed at its upper end with respect to the chassis frame main by a valve V which may be of the type shown in Fig. 5, supplies the rear axle through transverse pipe l5l.

Pipe I5! delivers oil through an arrangement of restriction ducts O at a common level, indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 1. Illustratively, four restrictions are shown, two at each side, two of said restrictions 0 constituting terminals applied at the rear wheel bearings, the other two restrictions 0 emptying by gravity through corresponding conduits IBZ to supply the rear brakes.

In the installation shown in Fig. 1, Where the restriction ducts on each of the lines are at a I common level, and each line is closed thereabove against entry of air, no escape of oil will occur, except while the pressure generator is functioning to effect slow seepage past the restriction ducts, all of the lines remaining filled from the source up to said ducts, and delivering to those conduits connecting restriction ducts to bearings.

vIf the application of working pressure to the system resulted in a continuous strearnof sufiicient volume to fill the normally empty conduits to the lower bearings instead of in the slow drip set forth, it is apparent that after shutting off the source of pressure, such filled conduit might drain oil from a portion of the line as by a syphoning action, air entering near a bearing or bearings at higher level.

Obviously the pressure generator and associated valve arrangement shown in the copending application Serial No. 580,668 filed August 9, 1922, Patent No. 1,975,920, may be substituted for that diagrammatically shown in Figs. 1 and 2,

, In Fig. 10 is shown a diagrammatic view-of another embodiment of the invention, in which all of the restriction ducts governing the distribution of the charge from the pressure generator are at substantially one common level,- the lines being normally empty below said level;

same level as ducts O, and leads to the left king pin.

The division of lubricant to the king pinand related bearings is effected through means similar to that shown in Fig. 6, except that instead;

of the restrictions in fitting H9, Wicks (not, shown) may be used to divide the lubricant.

which flows thereto by gravity from restriction duct 0'. A similar flexible line -l6l supplies the bearings at the left side of the rear axle, division there also being effected by wicks (not shown), said line also having a restriction duct" O at its head, at substantially the samelevel as the remaining ducts. A similar flexible connection Hill is effected through a restricted duct 0 at the same common level with the rearend of the steering gear.

The arrangement at the right side of the vehicle is identical with that at the left except,

of course, that no steering gear lubrication provided.

In operation, the discharge of the pressur generator will cause lubricant to be forced pastv the various restriction ducts at the common level and to drain by gravity through the various taps and flexible branches and to supply the corre- When the system is notopsponding bearings. crating, the valve V of Fig. 1 or 5| of Fig.2 closes the system against entry of air from above, and the various restriction ducts being at one common level, no drainage or escape can take place from the mains.

The tap and flexible lines below the outlets in this embodiment being normally empty,'may, if desired, be made of hose which need not be air-tight or pressure-tight. Thus, in the present embodiment, the various bearings on the chassis frame and below the chassis frame are reliably lubricated, without the use of any valves, other than the single valve controlling the exit from the pressure generator.

It will be understood that while the various layouts of piping set forth have been shown illustratively applied to the bearings of a vehicle of one type of construction, thebearings on any automobile chassis or any other machinery may be lubricated through piping connected in-the general manner disclosed. In the use of a pip.- ing layout of the general type as shown, the selection of bearings on each of the separate lines and the number of such lines will depend in each" case on the relative position of such bearings.

It is to be noted that all the bearings at any substantially common level need not necessarily be supplied from a common system of piping,

there being wide freedom of choice in the arrangement of conduits and restriction ducts with respect to any vehicle. Theinvention is not limited in its applic ation;

orzpluralityvof:machines. 1

Thezpresentzapplication is similar inzsubject matter to the parent -,application:- Serial ,No.

613,476; filed January; 18, 1923, which :issued as vPatentNo.2,009,428pon July-L30, 1935, and constitutes a division thereof.

Figs; 1 to: 10 correspondrespectively; to FigstlO, 3,4,.411, 5, V11, 11a, 11b, 11c and 12 ojfwsaid'parent application. It is..to :be .understoodzof zcour'se that in lieu of the outletifittings specifically show-nin Fig. 3, other 1 outlet. fittings, such as shown in: application Serial The installation may be fed from othertypes of pumps than those specifically shown, such for exampleas are-disclosed iniSerial No. 468,790

filed July 18, 1930; Serial No. 523,668 filed March 19, 1931; and Serial No. 352,744 filed April 5, 1929, respectively Patents 2,145,854,v 1,993,438 and 2,081,907.

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparently widelydifferent embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, itis intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. i

What is claimed is: 1

1. Lubricating means for the bearing-s at the front axle of a motor vehicle, comprising a centralized source of lubricant pressure on the chassis frame, piping connecting said source connecting each of said latter ducts with a bear-;.

ing below said king pins.

2. In combination, a chassis frame, a distributing conduit system on said frame, a valved flexible lead extending from said system, an axle, a steering knuckle, a king pin connecting said axle and said steering knuckle, rigid with one of said parts and having a bearing in the other, and an arm integral with said steering knuckle hving a tie rod bearing at its end, lubricant supply fitting means'rigid with respect to said axlesupplied from said lead, having one outlet for supplying lubricant to said king pin bearing, a second outlet in parallel therewith for supplying said tie rod bearing, and conduit means connecting said second outlet to said tie rod bearing.

3. In combination, a chassis frame, a distributing conduit system on said frame, a valved flexible lead extending from said system, a'front axle for a motor vehicle, a steering knuckle, a king pin connecting said axle and said knuckle and having a bearing with respect to one of said elements, an arm rigid with said steering knuckle and having a tie rod bearing at its end, a fitting applied at said axlesupplied from said lead, and having a first highly restricted duct communicating with a passage to supply said king pin, said fitting having a second highly restricted duct communicating with a passage longitudinally of .saidirsteering'zknuckle and. extending. along said .arm' to said tie rod.

4:: ma lubricatinginstallation;in combination,

a :chassis frame, a distributing conduit system on said frame, a valved flexible lead extending from saidsystemga-iront axle, asteering'knuckle,

a king, pin-connecting said axle and said knuckle,

-arms rigid witm saidsteering knu'ckleto the drag link zand to .the tie rod,- lubricant supply, fitting means supplied from said lead, connected to said axle adjacent saidkingpin, said fitting means havinggazhighly restricted passage communicating .WllJhCOlldllitS for lubricating said king pin,

a second;highly-restrictedpassage in said fitting means extendingidownward through said steering knucklatwo branch conduits supplied therefrom" and extendingalong said arms to'said drag link bearing'and toisai'd tie rod bearing and Wick dividing means efor. sub-dividing the oildelivered fromsaid second outlet to said branch conduits in the proportions required. I 5. A centralized lubricating installation for .a

mechanism having a unitary rigid frame with a plurality of spaced and distributed bearings at an approximately common. level, said bearings requiring relatively small, yet'accurately proportioned quantities of lubricant, said installation com'prisinga central pump, a distributing piping system having a plurality v of interconnected horizontal mains and outlet connections depending from said mains toward said bearings, and I tion of lubricant and yet permit suiilcient flow under applied pressure from said pump to feed said bearings, said fittings having a. tremendously greater obstructing efiect than the system and the bearings, to said connections, the junctions of said mains and connections being at a common level above the level of the bearings, said fittingsbeing positioned at and in said junctions.

6. The installation of claim 5, said mechanism having connected structures including groups of'bearings, relatively movable with respect to the mechanism, the connections to said bearings being flexible-and check valves being provided on said connections adjacent said mains.

'7. A centralized lubricating installation for a a mechanism of the type having distributed and spaced bearings positioned in groups at different levels, a source of lubricant pressure positioned adjacent one of said groups, piping systems having downwardly extending outlet connections, feeding each group of bearings, one connection being provided for each bearing, one of said systems being fed directly from said source and the other system being fed by a connection from said first system and a valve on said connection to prevent return flow from said second system to said first system, each connection at its junction with said piping being provided with a high restriction flow metering fitting feeding only under substantial applied pressure from saidsource and substantially preventing gravity feed, said fittings proportioning the lubricant among the bearings of each group.

' 8. The installation of claim '7, said valve being a spring seated valve being opened only by. substantial pressure application from said source.

10. A centralized lubricating installation for a mechanism having a plurality of bearings at different levels, a source of lubricant pressure, a distributing piping system with a plurality of outlets fed from said source, said outletsbeing at a common level substantially above said bearings and including high obstruction metering fittings preventing substantial gravity flow, while permitting flow under applied pressure-from said source, and tail pipe connections from said fittings to said bearings permitted flow of lubricant by gravity from said fittings to said bearings.

11. A centralized lubricating installation fora mechanism having a plurality of spaced and distributed bearings at varying levels to receive minute, yet accurately proportioned quantities of lubricant; said installation including a central pressure pump, a plurality of connected tubing mains into and through which lubricant is forced under substantial undiminished pump pressure by said pump, a valved connection between said mains and said pump, a plurality of flow restricting fittings one for each bearing positioned substantially above the respective bearings and having an obstructing effect tremendously greater than that encountered in the tubing or bearings so as to predominantly control the proportionment of the pump discharge among the bearings 1 and to absorb substantially all of the pressure of said pump discharge and toprevent substan ltial gravity fiow' and only permit slow seepage under substantial applied pump pressure, said fittings being positioned at the ends of said mains, and a plurality of gravity flow tail pipes GEORGE BIJ UR,

Executor of the Estate of Joseph Biy'ur, deceased. I 

